Highway 1 eastbound has reopened partially after a crane truck fire closed the road on Tuesday morning.
The fire happened just past the Hammond River Bridge, between Hampton and Quispamsis, near kilometre marker 146.
Deputy Fire Chief Shawn White of the Kennebecasis Valley Fire Department said crews were dispatched around 9:40 a.m. to a report of a vehicle fire.
Before they arrived, they learned it was a large crane that had caught fire on the eastbound side of the highway.
“When our crew arrived on scene, we found the crane’s engine compartment was engulfed in flames, producing heavy smoke,” White said. He added that smoke was also affecting westbound traffic.
White said the fire was put out within about an hour and a half, but the size of the crane created challenges for removal.
“The biggest issue was going to be having the crane removed from the highway because of its size; an ordinary tow truck wasn’t able to remove it,” he said.
The damaged crane remains on the side of the highway and may be there for much of the day, according to White.
The driver was not injured. White said the man reported hearing a loud bang before stopping and noticing fire underneath the vehicle.
RCMP said in a social media post at 1:06 p.m. that the highway had partially reopened to traffic. Eastbound vehicles are being diverted through Palmer Brook Road and Route 100.
White also noted there was no structural damage to the Hammond River Bridge.
He is also reminding drivers to slow down when passing emergency scenes, saying speeding vehicles put responders and the public at risk.
